HOLTVILLE A BEAST FROM THE EAST, BUT VALLEY CENTER STILL PREVAILS

CHULA VISTA 
Though Valley Center was favored to capture the San Diego Section Division IV wrestling championship, the Jaguars received an unexpectedly stout challenge from Holtville in Saturday’s competition at Mater Dei Catholic High.

“What a grind this thing was,” said Valley Center coach Clay Clifford. “Nobody expected Holtville to do as well as they did. We didn’t have the lead the whole day until we got into the middle of the final round.”

Valley Center had five finalists and all were victorious as the Jaguars finished with 212 points to second-place Holtville’s 193.5.

Dustin Miller was the first Valley Center wrestler to have his arm raised as he pinned Del Norte’s Ryan Thurman at 113 pounds in 2:54.

“I just stuck to the basics, nothing real fancy,” said Miller, who finished second in the section and fourth in Masters last year as a sophomore. “In the first match I did one of those trick moves that I’d never done before, but that was it. Overall I just did what I do best.”

Miller was the top seed in his weight class. He viewed that as an advantage.

“When you’re favored to win, it builds your confidence,” he said. “And in some cases it might intimidate your opponent.”

Miller said he’s been wrestling since the sixth grade and finds some of his toughest competition from his 130-pound eighth-grade brother, Tyler, who will be a freshman at Valley Center next year.

“It will be kinda neat having my brother on the same team,” said the elder Miller. “Tyler’s real aggressive, likes to throw guys around. I’m more of a technique guy.”

So who is the better wrestler in the family?

“Tyler will say he can beat me, but he can’t,” said Dustin.

Other champions for Valley Center were Manny Boyle (120), Adan Garcia (138), Christian Silva (160) and Garrett Castner (182). The last three all won by pins.

“Actually we’ve blown Holtville out of the water in previous tournaments, so I was surprised by how tough they were,” said Garcia, a defending section champion.